The German Start-Up Association urges the government to simplify the administrative process for internationals who want to come to the country for employment.
More specifically, the Association is calling on the German authorities to lift visa restrictions and reduce the application process times, which are two of the main hurdles that migrant workers who want to move to Germany for work often encounter, Schengen.News reports.
When it comes to issuing visas, [the German system] must be better digitised, faster and less complicated.
The foreign labour force is a crucial component of the German economy, which is heavily dependent on these workers. It is estimated that up to 288,000 migrant workers are needed in Germany every year in order for the country to maintain its economy, which is the largest and strongest economy in Europe and sixth in the world.
German Companies Not So Satisfied With Government’s Efforts to ‘Welcome’ Foreign Workers
German start-up companies are not satisfied with the conditions that the German government has created for workers. According to the German Start-Up Monitor 2024, which collected data from 1,859 start-ups in the country, 17 per cent of companies are satisfied with the rules regarding hiring from abroad, which is low compared to those who are dissatisfied.
Lack of efforts to accommodate and offer job opportunities to migrants could affect Germany’s reputation, appearing as an “unfriendly country” for this category of people. The country has already been considered as “not so friendly”, with some migrants living there saying that they have experienced racism quite often.
A Syrian refugee who has been living in Germany since 2016 confessed that he did not feel welcomed in the country. This led to him choosing Switzerland over Germany. After graduating with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Germany, he has become an IT specialist and plans to practise his expertise in the neighbouring country,
I gave my very best here in order to be considered an equal, but I felt discrimination and rejection. I want to be treated as an equal. But I’m not going to beg for it.
German Government Implements Several Policies to Attract Foreign Workers
The coalition of SPD-FDP-Greens political parties has implemented several measures to attract foreigners to Germany. In the last three years, this coalition has introduced the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), which facilitates the process of integration into the German market.
Only a handful of requirements need to be met in order to obtain a Chancenkarte, such as basic German language skills or intermediate skills in English, a recognised qualification, and proof that they are financially secure, among others.
Agreements to bring skilled workers from India to Germany were also signed last year, aiming at reciprocal benefits for both Indian workers and the German market.